Sand mold



(No Model.)

S. J.,ADAMS SAND MOLD.

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Nrrnn gSfrnrnns PATENT Qnnlcn.

STEPHEN J ARVIS ADAMS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. i

SAND MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,449, dated June 19, 1894. Application iiled October 24, 1892. Serial No. 449.903. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN JARvIs ADAMS, a resident of Pittsburg, in 'the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and usefuly Improvement in Sand Molds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof. lMy invention relates to the pouring or casting of metal in sand molds, and to the construction of runners for feeding the metal to the pouring gates of these molds. In the formation of small sand molds, it has been practically universally the custom to form the sand molds independent of each other, the pouringv gate or gates of each mold passing down from the top into the body of the mold, and to cast or pour the metal by means of handladles which are carried by the Workmen from the cupola to the molds, each ladle containing sufficient metal to pour from one to four molds or more, according to the size of the molds,

and it being necessary for the Workmen not only to carry the metal to the molds, which was laborious and occupied considerable time on account of the distance from the cupola to the molds, but to support the ladle while he directed the stream therefrom into each pouring gate of the molds; this requiring skill and being practically the heaviest Work in the formation of small hand molds. When it is appreciated that some molders can make between three and four hundred molds per day, and that it is necessary for them to carry the metal from the cupola or main ladle receiving the metal therefrom to these molds, and to make a sufficient number of trips to pour all the molds, it will be understood that this work occupies a large portion of the day, and 1s very Wearing to the Workmen, while at the same time it is practically impossible to feed the metal to thefmolds as rapidly as desired, and as the metal is exposed within the hand ladles it will chill more or less and the molds are not cast With the metal at as high a heat as necessary, thus causing a great deal of defective work.

The present invention consists, as generally stated,in combining with a series of sand molds a single trough extending over the same, said trough having openings therein and tubular leaders extending from the openn ings of the trough to the pouring gates of the molds, said tubular leaders being rigid With the trough and detachable from the molds so that the trough with the tubular leaders can be transferred from one set of molds to another. V

It also consists in the construction of such tubular leaders which form columns of metal above the bodies of the molds, and so act to insure a full supply of metal to the mold cavities and the formation of solid castings.

It also consists in the construction of a receiving basin for. feeding the metal to such inclined trough.

It also consists in certain other improvements which will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention,I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of the series of molds with a portable receiving basin showing my invention applied to the same. Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections illustrating the form of tubular leader for conducting the metal to the pouring gate of the mold. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of aseries of molds showing the basin formed as part of the runner. as shown in Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the views.

In practicing my invention, I prefer to employ the form in which the series of molds A are supported on a `level bed or platform B, this bed or platform being either the foundry iioor or a wooden or like platform on Which the molds may rest, and in some cases the platform being movable, that is mounted on a car or truck, so that if desired the entire series of molds may be brought to the pouring ladle or to the cupola, and may be poured when close lto the same and then be carried by the truck away from the same, so that another set of molds may be brought into the pouring position.

' The inclined trough is preferably formed of metal and lined with fire clay, asbestus, or some similar heat protecting material, and is preferably arranged at such an incline that the metal will flow down the same from the Fig. 5 is a cross-section of such a mold IOO temas pouring basin D arranged at the upper end thereof. The trough C has thepourin g open ings c formed therein above the pouring gates of the molds and extending from such pouring openings to the pouring gates are the tubular leaders e, these leaders being preferably formed with the trough, so that they may be placed upon and lifted from the set of molds with the t1ougl1,and being of different lengths corresponding to the distances between the pouring openings and the pouring gates of the respective molds where the trough is inclined. The particular form of leaders preferred is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and in Fig. 3 the leader is illustrated as separate from the trough, in which position it may be in some cases employed even in pouring single molds, so that the advantages of insuring a sufficient body of metal to fill the molds and a weight of molten metal to compact the castings formed in the mold may be utilized either in the single molds, or in pouring the series of molds as shown in Fig. l. The tubular leaders e have formed at the bases thereof annular lips e' which are adapted to press into the sand of the molds and form a tight joint between the annular leaders or mold coverings and the sand of the molds, so as to prevent leakage from the leaders over the tops of the sand molds.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the tubular leader with a fiat block therewith and extend` ing out over the surface of the sand mold, such fiat blocks e2 forming mold weights to confine the sand of the molds during the castlng operation, and to hold any cores within the mold cavities where such cores enter through the tops of the molds. The `tubular leaders are preferably formed of metal, and have linings of tire brick or like refractory material, as at f. These refractory linings are inserted either through the base of the leaders, as shown in Fig. 2, or through the top of the same, as shown in Fig. 3. In the former case, the inner walls of the tubular leaders are tapering toward the top, and the refractory linings, if brought to shape before being inserted, are correspondingly tapered so as to tit therein; and atight joint between the upper ends of the tubular linings and the leaders may be formed by the use ot' fire clay. The linings may, of course, be molded within the tubular leaders.

In Fig. 3 the mold weights are formed separate from the tubularleaders, fitting around the same and resting on the sand molds.

As the metal flows down the inclined pouring trough or runner, its flow may be checked in any suitable wayby means of a dam which will direct the saine into the tubular leader until the particular mold with which it communicates is filled, and such dam may be formed by means of a groove or seat 7L formed in the trough into which any suitably shaped block or dam h may be placed as the metal flows down the trough. I may also employT the dams formed in the body of the trough,

as shown at t', such dams being formed at the back of each opening communicating with the tubular leader so that the metal will strike 7o leader so that the trough can be easily re- 8o moved from the series of molds.

For the feeding of the metal to the trough, I lnay employ either a basin formed with the trough, or, as preferred by me, a removable basin communicating with the trough, such S5 removable basin being placed at the pouring end of the series of molds, and resting on the foundry floor or platform, this being illustrated in Fig. l. By the employment of the basin feeding the trough, the metal 9o is properly directed into the same and the necessity of such careful pouring from the large ladle is overcome. In the preferred construction of basin, the basin 7c is supported on a frame 7c and is hinged or ivoted at 95 the end nearest the trough, as at 7a2, so that the basin may be raised by the operator to feed all the metal therefrom into the trough, or to regulate the feeding of the metal during the pouring operation. suitable mechanism for raising the rear end of the basin may be employed, that shown being the segmental geared arm Z extending down from the basin with which a pinion k3 mounted on the frame k engages, said pinion being turned by a suitable handle, and so providing for the raising of the rear end of the basin to feed the metal therefrom into the trough. Preferably at the forward end or mouth 7a4 of the basin is hinged a spout fm, 110

which extends down to and rests within the trough so forming a continuous course from the basin into the trough, as the mouth of such movable spout can rest in the pouring trough and when the basin is raised or low [15 ered the spout will simply swing on its pivot m and so form a continuous course for the metal from the basin to the trough, no matter in what position the basin is supported.

Such construction provides for the proper con I 2 o nection of the basin with the pouring troughno matter what the relative position of the trough and the basin may be. Such pivoted spout may also be used directly with the ladle, and in such case the basin will not be required. At the end of the continuous runner is the receiving basin into which any surplus metal after the filling of the molds can flow, so preventing the spilling of the metal upon the floor. any suitable construction. As the metal is passing along the inclined trough to the several pouring gates, there is a liability of its becoming chilled by contact with the air and In the lat- 75 For this purpose any roc This basin may be of 13o so not Iiowing as freely as desired to the diffei'ent molds, especially at the lower end of the trough; and to prevent this chilling of the metal I prefer to employ a removable runner cover p which rests upon the runner and so prevents the contact of the air with the molten metal and maintains the heat of the metal as it iiows through the runner.

This runner cover is preferably raised in the center as shown by p,that is, having the c entral longitudinal raised portion p and the lips or ribs p2 extending out at each side to support the cover upon the runner, such raised portion preventing the direct contact Vof the metal with the cover, and also permitting the free escape of the gases as the metal flows through the runner. Such cover can, of course, be employed with any form of continuous runner where the metal is fed at one end thereof, and flows thence to the several pouring gates of the molds.

The manner in which the inclined trough 1s employed, will, of course, be easily understood the metal being carried to the same in any suitable ladle which can be supported on any over-head or ground track, and being poured into the basin 7c, from which it iiows directly into the upper. end of the trough, flowing down the same until it reaches the first opening therein, and the metal being checked in its course either by the hand stopl-v per or dam h preferably fitting in the groove h, or by the dam t' formed in the body of the trough and the metal then owing down the tubular leader c into the pouring gate a, and thence to the mold cavities, and as the tubular leader is filled, the body ofv molten metal therein acting as a sinker head or feeder to the mold so that it will insure the formation of solid castings, the metal thus passing down through the trough from mold to mold, filling each mold successively in its course. The feeding of the metal maybe regulated by the operator by raising or lowering the feeding basin, and as the stream of metal approaches the last mold in the series, the basin may be raised so'that when said mold has been filled all the metal has been emptied from the basin. On account of the lips e at the lower ends of the tubular leaders which press into the sand and form close joints therewith, all

. liability of the metal escaping at the tubular leaders is overcome. At the same time the cover 1o if employed will protect `the molten metal from contact with the air, maintaining it at a high heat until it reaches the lower end of the runner. As soon as the metal is set, the trough or troughs may be lifted from the series of molds and placed upon another series of the same, the cores or sinker heads formed in the tubular leaders passing out of the same when the trough is lifted off, or being easily driven from the same in their weak unsettled state if they stick therein. The refractory linings can be easily replaced in the tubular leaders in case they break or wear out. f l

As before stated, the tubular leaders may be employed with separate molds, and in that case act as sinker heads therefor. This feature is of special importance, as it enables me to reduce the thickness of the body of the mold, only sufficient sand to hold the metal in forming the casting being used, and the metal in the leader feeding to the mold cavity the metal necessary to form a solid casting.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a series of sand molds set upon a level floor or platform, a trough extending over the same and having openings therein, and tubular leaders extending from such openings to the pouring gates of the several molds, said leaders being rigid with the trough and detachable from the molds, and the passages in the leaders being tapering toward the upper end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a sand mold, a removable tubular leader extending up from the pouring gate of the mold, and having a block at the base thereof resting on and forming a mold weight for the mold, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with a sand mold, a runner resting on and extending up from the pouring gate of the mold, and having an annular lip at the base thereof to pressinto the sand of the mold and form aclose joint therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with a sand mold, a removable tubular leader extendingl up from the pouring gate of the mold, and having a refractory lining the inner walls whereof are tapering toward the top, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with a series of sand molds, of a continuous runner extending over the same and communicating with the pouring gates of the several molds, and a feeding basin adapted to receive the metal from the ladle andfeed it to the runner, said basin being mounted at its forward end so as to be raised to feed the metal to the runner, sub# y,

stantially as and for the purposes set forth. y

6. The combination with a runner for feeding metal to sand molds, of the frame lo, the feeding basin lo mounted on said frame, and having the geared segmental arm and the pinion 7c3 engaging therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. g

7. The combination with arunner for feeding metal to sand molds, of a feeding basin mounted so as to be raised to feed the metal to the runner, and a feeding spout hinged to the mouth of said basin and adapted to feed the metal into said runner, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination with a series of sand molds of a runner extending along the same and adapted to feed the metal to the pouring gates of the several molds, and a runnercover adapted to it over said runner and re- ITO movable therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination with a series of send molds, of a runner extending along the same and adapted to feed the metal to the pouring gates of the several molds, and a. removable runner cover adapted to fit over seid runner said cover having a. raised central portion p', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In combination with a series of sand molds, a. trough extending over the saine and having openings therein, and tubular leeders extending from said openings to the pouring gates of the several molds, said leaders being rigid with the trough and detachable from the molds, and said leaders having annnlar lips at the base thereof to press into the sand of the mold and form close joints therewith, substantially `as and for the purposes set forth. v

In testimony whereof I, the seid STEPHEN JARVIS ADAMS, have hereunto set my hand.

STEPHEN JARVIS ADAMS. Witnesses:

JAMES I. KAY, J. N. COOKE. 

